How to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

The article aims to answer the question “How to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?”. The article will also discuss the best possible method for you to fix uneven concrete floors or uneven concrete driveways. 

How to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

If you want to level a hot tub on uneven concrete:

  • Check with your hot tub manufacturer for specific instructions on how to properly use shims. Shimming the tub wrongly might result in a fracture. To avoid voiding the guarantee on your tub, some manufacturers do not advocate using shims at all.
  • Start by tapping in shims on the lowest side of an empty tub (less weight to cope with that way). Make sure that the tub’s weight is evenly distributed over the low side by placing shims at regular intervals.
  • Pressure-treated timber may be used to make shims and a platform for slopes of less than an inch. Using pressure-treated 24 boards and an external quality plywood sheet, remove the tub and then:
  • Use your slope to cut the 2x4s into wedge-shaped pieces.
  • Insert them every few feet across the bottom of the tub.
  • Screw exterior grade plywood to the wood shims using a jigsaw.
  • Ensure that the tub is placed on a flat surface.
  • No matter how big or little the uneven slope, a spa leveller should be used to bring the hot tub back to level. Spa levellers come with a variety of adjustable feet that enable you to tailor the height of the spa to the slope you’re dealing with.
  • In order to install the spa leveller correctly, you’ll need to relocate your hot tub out of the way. Before reinstalling the hot tub on the new leveller, you’ll need to know how much your concrete pad is off of level.

What do I need to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

To level a hot tub on uneven concrete, you need:

  • Hammer
  • Self-levelling concrete
  • Portland cement 
  • Concrete grinder

How to level an uneven concrete floor?

To level an uneven concrete floor:

  • It is imperative that you create a strategy before executing any action. Make a thorough assessment of the problem before getting to work. Determine the state of the concrete. This project’s timeline and budget are important considerations for you.
  • In addition, you must figure out how much concrete level you’ll need for the job. Cement can be self-leveled, although it is a difficult task. It’s easy to destroy a whole project by not taking the time to measure and prepare ahead of time.
  • The first step is to remove all of the equipment, belongings, and furniture from the room. Make sure the floor is free of clutter by clearing the room. Then, use a specific cleanser to scrub the concrete.
  • Scrub the concrete with a soft bristled brush after applying the clear. Any surplus oil and grime may be removed by using this product. Allow the cleaner to rest for 30 minutes on the concrete. Some cleaners take more time to do the job, while others take less time. 
  • Be careful to pay attention to the instructions on the box label. Later on, you’ll need to make sure you don’t skip this step. The bonding agent must adhere to a clean surface.
  • Use a metal scraper if the cleaner fails to remove all of the gunk. Start scrubbing any remaining tile or linoleum slowly and lightly. Sweep it up and throw it away after that. 
  • It’s time for the last step: vacuuming the whole space. Just in case you missed something when sweeping, you should do it.
  • Shop-vac is the greatest vacuum cleaner. It was designed with this task in mind. It’s designed to hold cement and other heavy materials. This vacuum cleaner isn’t mandatory. It’s available for short-term rental.
  • Wear safety gear at all times. Wearing eye and hand protection and gloves is an absolute need. Place the fabricated disc on its flat side against the mark you’d want to make. 
  • Afterwards, begin grinding from the front and rear. Grind the area until it is level with the rest of the floor, then sand it smooth again. Use a shop-vac to remove any remaining debris once you’ve finished sanding and smoothing.
  • Make care to dilute the bonding agent first before applying it to the surface to be bonded. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for dilution in water. When you’re done with it, you may apply the agent to the concrete in small doses. Make sure to read the directions thoroughly before applying any remedy.
  • Use a nap roller to apply a coat of bonding glue to the basement floor. On the back of self-stick paper notes, wait until the adhesive is no longer moist but still keeps its stickiness before moving forward. 
  • With the sealant, the old concrete floor is attached to the self-leveling compound, creating a new, level floor.

Can I use self-levelling concrete to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

Yes, you can use self-levelling concrete to level a sloped concrete floor. 

You may save time and money by pouring self-levelling toppings or self-levelling overlays over concrete areas you didn’t think were recoverable. It’s quicker and simpler than laying down fresh concrete, for sure.

Move the grinding plate back and forth and sideways to level off any high or uneven locations. Make a thin and uniform paste out of your levelling compound. The paste fills up the gaps in the floor. Use a soft bristle push broom to spread the levelling primer evenly throughout the surface.

How to fix an uneven concrete floor?

  • Move the grinding plate back and forth and sideways to level off any high or uneven locations. 
  • Make a thin and uniform paste out of your leveling compound. 
  • The paste fills up the gaps in the floor. 
  • Use a soft bristle push broom to spread the leveling primer evenly throughout the surface.

How to fix uneven concrete driveway floor?

  • Overlays to fix uneven concrete driveway require a clean surface to adhere well. Solidity is required in the concrete. Using a small chisel and hammer, remove any loose concrete and damaged materials from fractures. 
  • Bottom cracks should be broader than top cracks. Before beginning any job, it is helpful to clean the concrete surface using a degreaser or dish detergent mixed with water and left on the surface for about 30 minutes before being rinsed and dried.
  • Larger cracks need more care than smaller ones, but all of them must be repaired before the overlay can be applied. To prevent further expansion of wider fractures, use fabric tape with reinforcements. 
  • Following the instructions on the packaging, polymer patch repair solutions may fill all of the fractures and provide a strong connection between old concrete and new overlay. A hand grinder may be used to smooth the edges of the repair patches after they have cured.
  • When applying concrete overlays, they must be deep enough to level the driveway’s uneven surface. The overlay may be poured to the desired depth using furring strip forms installed along the driveway edge. 
  • The furring strips are held in place by stakes driven into the ground on each side of them. The thickness of the overlay must be checked often when the strips are put in place.
  • Two parts sand and one part Portland cement are combined with water to form a pancake batter-like consistency for the overlay layer. First, a cement-and-water paint is applied to the driveway’s surface to serve as a bonding agent before the overlay is installed. 
  • The overlay material must be applied over the freshly painted surface before it dries. In spite of the fact that the overlay may self-level, it still has to be pushed into corners and around the edges. 
  • An old broom may be used to roughen the surface once the overlay has dried to make it more slip-resistant. Drying time for the overlay is at least a few days. In order to make the concrete stronger, it needs time to dry.

Can I use geo-polymer to level a sloped concrete floor?

No, You can’t use geopolymer void filling to level a sloped concrete floor thus you’ll have to use polymer injection to stabilize and densify the fill.

Cracking and/or sinking concrete may occur as a result of voids beneath concrete. Soil support, anchors, rebar, or Sonotube usage all contribute to the formation of cavities in concrete. A gap forms between the earth and the bottom of the concrete slab when it settles or is somehow moved away, causing the slab to lose support.

Fill dirt, erosion, burrowing rats, rotting organic waste, and even a lack of moisture in the soil may cause gaps in the foundation. 

Once they’re there, it’s hard to fill them back in. Smaller slabs such as pathways may be filled with gravel or sand, while bigger slabs such as driveways or patios cannot be filled with gravel or sand. 

These need a mechanism that does not elevate the slab, but rather supports it. Using an expansive polymer for void filling is useful for a number of reasons, including:

Can I use polyurethane foam to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

Yes, Injections of polyurethane foam are far less expensive than tearing out concrete slabs or redoing the driveway entirely. Additionally, there is little indication of the work that was done other than a rebuilt and level driveway. 

For residents in and around Alpharetta, Georgia, Advance Concrete Lifting & Leveling has an option for a concrete driveway solution.

The polyurethane foam is injected into the slab via tiny holes drilled on the surface, expanding and filling up the space. In order to prevent future soil movement or erosion, the substance is intended to cling to and adhere to the current soil.

Gravel is another ideal sub-base material for a concrete slab because of its strength and flexibility. To lay gravel, the soil must be prepared beforehand; pouring concrete straight upon rock is not recommended. 

As long as the gravel is clean and of a consistent size and shape, any kind of gravel may be used as a subbase.

Removing the concrete driveway would need a practice known as slab jacking in order to fix an issue that can be fixed by jacking up the earth. You don’t have to remove the driveway’s surface slabs or spend a lot of time reinforcing the structure.

Conclusion

If the slope is less than an inch, simple shims may be used to level a hot tub on uneven concrete. For steeper slopes, leveling may need custom-built pads of wood, sand or gravel, or even a new concrete pad.

Frequently asked questions (FAQS): How to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

How to level a hot tub on uneven concrete?

Check with your hot tub’s manufacturer for specific instructions on how to properly use shims. Shimming the tub wrongly might result in a fracture. To avoid voiding the guarantee on your tub, some manufacturers do not advocate using shims at all.

Start by tapping in shims on the lowest side of an empty tub (less weight to cope with that way). Make sure that the tub’s weight is evenly distributed over the low side by placing shims at regular intervals.

Pressure-treated timber may be used to make shims and a platform for slopes of less than an inch.

How to level a sloped concrete floor?

It is imperative that you create a strategy before executing any action. Make a thorough assessment of the problem before getting to work. Determine the state of the concrete. This project’s timeline and budget are important considerations for you.

In addition, you must figure out how much concrete level you’ll need for the job. Cement can be self-leveled, although it is a difficult task. It’s easy to destroy a whole project by not taking the time to measure and prepare ahead of time.

The first step is to remove all of the equipment, belongings, and furniture from the room. Make sure the floor is free of clutter by clearing the room. Then, use a specific cleanser to scrub the concrete.

How to fix an uneven concrete floor?

Move the grinding plate back and forth and sideways to level off any high or uneven locations.  Make a thin and uniform paste out of your leveling compound. The paste fills up the gaps in the floor. Use a soft bristle push broom to spread the leveling primer evenly throughout the surface.

Can I use self-leveling concrete to fix an uneven concrete floor?

Yes, you can use self-leveling concrete to fix an uneven concrete floor. 

You may save time and money by pouring self-leveling toppings or self-leveling overlays over concrete areas you didn’t think were recoverable. It’s quicker and simpler than laying down fresh concrete, for sure.

How to fix the uneven concrete floor of the driveway?

Overlays to fix uneven concrete driveway require a clean surface to adhere well. Solidity is required in the concrete. Using a small chisel and hammer, remove any loose concrete and damaged materials from fractures. 

Bottom cracks should be broader than top cracks. Before beginning any job, it is helpful to clean the concrete surface using a degreaser or dish detergent mixed with water and left on the surface for about 30 minutes before being rinsed and dried.

Larger cracks need more care than smaller ones, but all of them must be repaired before the overlay can be applied. To prevent further expansion of wider fractures, use fabric tape with reinforcements. 

Bibliography

Bag of concrete. how to fill a void under a concrete slab (DIY). Retrieved from: https://bagofconcrete.com/how-to-fill-a-void-under-a-concrete-slab-diy/